主权项 |
1. An apparatus that provides protection from precipitation if needed to a vehicle occupant upon entering or exiting from the vehicle, comprising:
an elongate, streamlined housing having a leading end and a trailing end that correspond to a leading and trailing end of said vehicle; said housing having a longitudinal axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle; said housing adapted to be secured to the roof of said vehicle near an edge of said roof in proximity to a vehicle door so that the housing can be reached by a passenger seated within said vehicle; said housing including a hollow base and a hollow cover; said hollow base adapted to be secured to said vehicle roof; a hinge positioned at the leading end of said housing, said hinge interconnecting said hollow cover and said hollow base; said housing having a fully closed position when said hollow cover is fully engaged to said hollow base; said housing having a fully open position when said hollow cover is fully rotated with respect to said base; a sheet of waterproof material having a first end secured to an interior of said hollow base and a second end secured to an interior of said hollow cover; said sheet being in a stored configuration when said housing is in said fully closed position, said sheet being fully deployed when said housing is in said fully open position; a catch secured to a trailing end of said base; a latch secured to a trailing end of said cover; said latch engaging said catch when said housing is in said fully closed configuration; a handle disposed at a leading end of said housing, said handle having a position of repose and a position of non-repose; an elongate rod disposed in said housing; a first end of said elongate rod connected to said handle; a second end of said elongate rod connected to said latch and catch when said housing is in said fully closed position; said handle, when displaced from its position of repose to its position of non-repose, displacing said elongate rod along a longitudinal axis of symmetry; said displacement of said elongate rod releasing said latch from said catch so that said cover may be pivoted about said hinge and swung away from said base. |